Flows between locations

Trip indicators

From CDR data, we can analyse the numbers of subscribers travelling between pairs of locations in short periods of time (hours, days), referred to as trips, and how the numbers of trips vary over time. Based on the numbers of trips between locations, we can generate additional indicators describing different aspects of human mobility such as:

• How much people move within and between regions (intra- and inter-regional travel)
• How connected different areas are and main routes of travel (connectivity)
• Median distance travelled over time, and per focal region (mobility statistics)

Trip indicators have a broad range of applications in the humanitarian and development sector. We can study commuter behaviour and identify peak times for travel over the course of a day, or peak days for travel over a week. This can provide insights, for example, into the demands for transport infrastructure and the provision of public transport. Sudden changes in flows, particularly in the aftermath of a rapid-onset disaster, may also provide indications of damage to transport infrastructure.

Human mobility indicators, especially those describing connectivity, are also very useful for predicting the geographic spread of infectious disease and identifying hotspots which might be prioritised to reduce the risk of spread to new areas. Similarly indicators describing mobility can help assess the effectiveness of government-imposed restrictions on population movements.